Electrical massage instrument.



N. WISE. v ELECTRICAL MASSAGE INSTRUMENT. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1911.

1,123,63.. Patented JaIL, 1915.

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5 against the tension of. the spring 11, and that when the solenoid is denergized the core will be retracted by the spring 11. To cause the core to ,be thus rapidly 'reciprocated when the instrument is connected to a source of electrical energy, a make-andbreak contact device is employed controlled by the reciprocation of thel core, and this device will now be described.

On the-top plate 7 of the casing is'secured a contact-supporting plate 12 having an elevatedAA central portion carrying a longitudinally adjustable. contact screw 13 in alinement with the core 2. This contact screw is insulated'from the plate 12 and is connected to anl insulated terminal 14 of the solenoid 1, which terminal extends up through an opening in the plate 7 and is attached to the screw 13 by a binding post nut 15 in the usual Way. The core 2 is provided in its upper end with a normally extended yieldable contact rod 16 in position to'engage the lower end of the contact screw 13. A coiled thrust spring 17 is seated'in a bore in the upper end of the core 2 and bears at its upper end against an annular flange on the contact rod 16 and tends to hold the rod to extended position while permitting it to yield. The contact rod 16 slides in the bore of a hollow removable plug 18 in the end of the bore in the core 2, and the flange on the rod 16 abuts against the lower end of the plug 18, the flange thus serving as a stop to limit the outward movement of the rod under the pressure of the spring 17. Due to the engagement between the y plugl18 and the lianghe,the rod is positively moved away from its complementary contact screw 13 when the core 2 is moved downward, and the rod is always held steady and prevented from wabbling because of its long bearing. It will be apparent that the core, in its retracted movement, will be permitted to move after contact is made with the screw 13, and thus contact is always assured while the core is allowed a considerable range of movement in order to deliver a relatively hard blow on the applicator, as will be described hereinafter.

The instrument has a hollow handle 19 through which enter the two leads, insu- -lated from'each other in the usual way. One lead 20 is connected directly to the opposite terminal of the solenoid 1, and the other lead 21 is connected through a manually operative switch to the metal ferrule 22 of the handle, which is in electrical contact with the metal casing and is thus included in the electrical circuit. The bore in the hollow handles yis of larger diameter at the shank end of the handle and at the inner end of this enlarged bore is inserted a metallic ring 23. preferably of copper. to which the lead 21 is connected. On the side of the handle,

in position to be engaged by the thumb of the operator, is a sliding switch button 24. having a shank which is slidable in a slot 25 in the handle. The switch button 24 carries at the inner end of its shank a contact strip 26 which is of sufficient width at its point of attachment to the shank of the button to bear against the handle at each side of the slot and which has a front resilient portion extending outward into continuous sliding engagement with the ferrule 22 (thereby providing sullicient friction to hold the switch in the position to which it is moved) and has a rear end resilient portion extending into position to engage the ring 23 when the switch is drawn backto connected position, as shown in the drawings, and is of such length that in the forward position of the switch its contact with the ring 23 is broken. This switch is very convenient for operation and since it has no bias to either position, the operator does not need to hold it under continuous control during the operation of the instrument. It is evident that when the switch is moved to the connected position shown, the circuit through the solenoid will be completed as follows: through the lead 20, the solenoid l, terminal 11, contact screw 13, contact rod 16, plug 1-8 and spring 17 to core 2, spring 11,' casing top plate 7, cylindrical casing 6, ferrule 22, contact strip 26, ring 23, and lead 21 to the source of electrical energy. The core 16 is immediately attracted and a hammer blow is delivered on the applicator, but this breaks the circuit of the solenoid between the contact screw 13 and contact rod 16 and the attractive force on the core is terminated and the retractile spring 11 retracts the core, again completing the circuit, and this operation is repeated with great rapidity and the core is thus rapidly reciprocated.

A usual applicator 27 is provided with a screw-threaded stem 28 for attachment to an applicator spindle 29, which is arranged in alinement with the core 2, and is slidable longitudinally in a sleeve 30. The spindle 29 has an enlarged flat head 32 on its upper and inner end, and a carrying-plate 31. of similar shape to the contact-supporting plate 12, is attached to the bottom plate 8 and surrounds the sleeve 30 underneath a shoulder on the sleeve, and serves as a guide for the head 32. A coiled thrust spring 33 surrounds the spindle 29 and the sleeve 30, and bears at its lower end on the plate 31 and at its upper end against the bottom of the spindle head 32, and tends to hold the spindle with the head against the bottom plate 8 and in front of the bore in the magnetic plug in the path of the hammer l0. Since` as previously stated. the hammer lO in the retracted position of the core 2 is aiaaeee vserves as a stop to limit -the upward movement of the spindle and prevents its contacting with the hammer 10 when the core is in retracted position, there is a clearance in this position of the core between the end of the hammer 10 and the to of the spindle head 32, and, consequently, it will be manifest that the back pressure on the spindle 29 can never prevent the reciprocation ofthe core and hammer, as would be the case if the spindle could follow the hammer back to the full length of its stroke. The operator may, therefore, press the applicator as hard as he desires against the surface to be treated and the continuous rain of blows on the inner end of the spindle will cause the applicator to produce a pounding etlect on the surface when the applicator is inserted in the screw-threaded bore provided for it in the outer end of the spindle, in the position shown in the drawings. lin order to permit the applicator to be connected to the spindle at right angles to the position shown in the drawings when it is desired to lproduce a rubbing or reciprocating movement of the applicator instead of a pounding movement on the surface being treated, the applicator is made removable and a stem-receiving bore is provided in the-side of the spindle as shown. lt is apparent that the means described for attaching the applicator to the spindle provides a rigid connection in either position ot the applicator, in contradistinction, for example,J to constructions in 'which the applicator is hinged to the spindle,

To assemble the parts on the bottom oi' the instrument, the sleeve 30 is inserted in its bore in the plate 34, the spring 83 is placed in position about the sleeve 30, the

l .spindle 29 is inserted in the sleeve 30 and the carrying plate 34 is-thcn secured to the plate 8. 'lhese parts are covered by a removable cap 3l, and the upper part of the instrument is also provided with a removable cap 35, the removal of which gives access to the working parts above the solenoid.

llt is obvious that various modications may be made inthe construction shown and `initial position after im p repeated blows of the solenoid core upon the end of the rigid spindle, and means for returning the spindle to initial position after each impact of the core upon the same.

A massage instrument comprising an applicator carried by a longitudinally rigid reciprocable spindle, a solenoid device for impelling said spindle forward by rapidly repeated blows of the solenoid core upon the end of the rigid spindle, means for returning the spindle to initial position after each impact of the core upon the same, and means for limiting the approach of the spindle to the core.

3. 'A massage instrument comprising a casing, a longitudinally rigid reciprocable spindle carried by the casing and bearing an applicator at its outer end, a solenoid device within the casing for giving repeated blows by its core upon the end of said spindle, means for returning the spindle to each impact of the core thereon, and a stop for'limiting the approach of the spindle tothe core. Y

4. A. massage instrument comprising a casing, a substantially inelastic sliding mem ber carried by the casing and bearmg an applicator at its outer end, a solenoid device, within the casing, having an inelastic core for impelling said member forward by successive rapid blows, a stop preventing said member from moving rearward to the core when the latter is in retracted position, and a spring for returning said inelastic .member and applicator to initial position after each blow of said core.

ln testimony whereof l have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, NATHAN WISE. Witnesses:

Vieron l). Bonsr, Hauer Lewis..

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